Capsule filling machine



Sept. 13, 1932.

w. WILKIE ET AL 1,876,813

CAPSULE FILLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet l anvemto'w Sept. 13, 1932. w. WlLKlE ET AL 1,876,813

CAPSULE FILLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 13. 1928 Sheets-Sheet 2 attozmuaa Sept.

w. WILKIE ET AL 1,876,813

CAPSULE FILLING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 15, 1928 8140c nto w Sept. 13, 1932. w. WILKIE ET AL CAPSULE FILLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 13, 1932. w. WILKIE ET AL CAPSULE FILLING MACHINE 7 Sheets- Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 13. 1928 f v W Sept. 13, 1932. w. WILKIE ET AL CAPSULE FILLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 anozutow 71%))??? 772K126 Ari/Yard jar-era Sept. 13, 1932. w. WlLKlE ET AL 1,876,313

CAPSULE FILLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15. 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Sept. 13, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE WARREN WILKIE AND ARTHUR A. LEVERENZ, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORS TO PARKE, DAVIS & COMPANY, 015 DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHI- GAN CAPSULE FILLING MACHINE Application filed February 13, 1928. Serial No. 254,127.

This invention relates to Capsule filling machines, more particularly to an improved construction thereof tending to simplify, render more eflicient and improve the same gener- 6 ally.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a constantly operating machine adapted to automatically feed gelatine capsules to a righting mechanism where the capsules are arranged cap upwards; then to deposit the capsules into an unjoining mechanism; then to bring the bodies of the capsules under a material or medicament feeding mechanism; then rejoin the capsules; and

1 finally eject the filled capsules.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of this character, the parts of which are so constructed and co-r-elated and timed as to provide for the several steps being successively performed upon a single I capsule and simultaneously performed upon a plurality of capsules.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mechanism of the character described ,With the component parts thereof so timed that a sufficient interval of time is provided for each successive operation as to insure the successful completion thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character having means for automatically interrupting the operation of the device upon the occasion of a jamming or binding of the parts resulting from imperfect or misplaced capsules or the like.

Many other objects, advantages and novel details of construction will be made more apparent as this description proceeds. especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a capsule filling machine constructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a top lan view of the structure illustrated in igure 1 with certain parts broken away for sake of clearness;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by line 44 in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional elevation View taken substantially on the plane indicated by line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view taken substantially on the plane indicated by line 66 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the plane 7.7 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by line 88 of Figure 2;

Figure 9 is a view substantially similar to Figure 8 showing the parts in different position;

Figure 10 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by line 1010 of Figure 6;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the righting mechanism;

Figure. 12 is a vertical detail sectional view taken substantially on a plane indicated by line 1212 of Figure 2; and v Figure 13 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 13-13 of Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like parts, it will be noted that the machine includes a table-like base or support 10 of substantially hollow construction providing an interior 11 in which the gearing and much of the operating mechanism is housed.

Extending longitudinally through the base I 10 is a main shaft 12 provided at spaced intervals throughout its length with worm gears 13, 14 and 15. The main drive shaft 12 extends beyond the base 10 at one end thereof and is coupled to a power unit herein illustrated as an electric motor '16. The other end of the drive shaft 12 may be extended beyond the base and provided with a hand wheel or the like 17 by means of which the 95 shaft 12 may be moved in timing the device.

The drive shaft 12 may be conveniently mounted in bearings 18 projecting upwardly from the'bottom plate 19 of the base 10.

Worm 13 meshes with a worm wheel 20 fixed to the lower end of a sleeve 21 rotatably journaled in a bearing 22 carried by the base 10. Also fixed to sleeve 21 is a disk 23 of a Geneva gear. A11 arm 24 is also fixed for rotation with sleeve 21 and disk 23, this arm being provided with a laterally extending stud or pin 25 adapted to engage in radially peripherally opening slots 26 formed in a disk 27 constituting the third part of this Geneva gear.

The disk 27 is mounted upon a shaft 28 journalled in the base 10 of the machine. The periphery of the disk 27 is provided with a plurality of spaced concave surfaces 29 adapted for engagement with the periphery of the disk 23 during the idle moments of the machine. However, the periphery of the disk "23 is provided with a cut-away portion 30 providing a clearance between the disks 23 and 27 during one portion of the rotation of the former and during this portion of the rotation of the disk 23 the pin 25 engages in one of the slots 26 to thus rotate the disk 27 a distance substantially equal to the dis tance between adjacent slots 26. Thus from a constantly rotating drive shaft 12 it is possible to periodically rotate shaft 28.

Keyed to shaft 28 is a gear 31 which meshes with gears 32 and 33 carried respectively by shafts 34 and 35.

Worm 14 meshes with worm wheel. 36 keyed to a shaft 37 adapted to operate mechanism yet to be more fully referred to.

Worm 15 meshes with worm wheel 38 keyed to the lower end of the shaft 39 journalled in suitable bearings in the base 10.

Supported in any suitable manner above the base 10 of the machine is a capsule hopper 40 provided with a capsule discharge or conducting spout 41, its lower end terminating in a horizontally extending discharge end 42. The end of the spout 41 discharges the capsules, which incidentally may be delivered either cap first or body first, to a capsule righting mechanism indicated generally by the reference character 43. This capsule righting mechanism consists essentially of a lower or bottom plate 44 and an upper plate 45 slidable longitudinally relative thereto. The upper movable plate 45 is provided with a capsule receiving slot 46 open at one end with the open end thereof opposed to the discharge end of the spout 41. The edge of the movable plate 45 is cut away as indicated at 47 to accommodate the end of the discharge spout. The plate 45 is movable from the position shown in top plan view in Figure 2 and in section in Figure 3, wherein the slot 46 is in alignment with the discharge end of. the spout 41 to the position shown in plan view in Figure 6, wherein the wall. of recess 47 closes the discharge end of the capsule supply spout 41. Whenthe plate 45 is in the position illustrated in Figure 6, slot v46 is in registration with a slot 48 formed in the lower late 44. This slot is substantially of the s ape illustrated in Figure 10, that is, it is provided with relatively restricted end portions 49 and a center portion 50 of greater Width. The restricted end portions 49 are too narrow to permit the cap of the capsule to pass therethrough, but permit the body of the capsule to pass freely therethrough. Thus, when slot 46 of the upper plate 45 is brought into registration with the slot 48 of the lower plate 44, the capsule indicated by the reference character C is deposited into the slot 48 and as just described is righted or caused to assume a position with the cap upwards.

The righting mechanism may be conveniently supported by a bracket 51 and this bracket is provided with a tapered directing channel or opening 52 by means of which the capsule is directed into the apertures of one of the disks or table of the unjoining mechanism yet to be more fully referred to.

Fixed to the upper end of the shaft 39 (for instance see more particularly Figures 4, 5 and 6) is a cam 53 adapted for engagement with a roller 54 carried on the end of a lever 55 pivotally mounted as at 56. Also pivoted about the same pivot 56 is a pair of arms 57, said arms being provided with depending portions 58 arranged in embracing engagement with both sides of the forward end of the lever 55. Also extending between the depending side portions 58 of the arms 57 and located between these arms and the lever 55 is another lever 59 pivoted about the pivot 56 and also piv'otally connected as at 60 to the upper plate 45 of the righting mechanism.

As seen more particularly from Figure 7, the two arms 57 are connected by means of a spring 61 which acts to normally hold these arms as illustrated in Figures 2, 7 and 11, that is, with the depending portions 58 embracing the adjacent portions of levers 55 and 59; Electric contacts 62 are carried by both depending portions 58 of the arms 57 and in the normal position of the parts as illustrated in Figure 7 these contacts engage the ends of an electric conductor 63 extending through but insulated from the end of the lever 55. Thus with the parts in this position, an electric circuit is com leted from one contact 62' to the other, which contacts may be included in the circuit controlling the power unit 16. If, however, movement of plate member 45 is resisted by a force greater than the strength of the spring 61, then this spring will give and the arms 57 will be moved apart somewhat in the manner illustrated in the Figure 6, whereupon the engagement between one of the contacts and the electric conductor 63 will be broken and the circuit controlling the power unit 16 consequently interrupted. In this way the jamming of capsules in the righting mechanism,

- ink and which is a common occurrence and has been qllliite objectionable in rior machines of this c aracter, is eliminate Also keyed to shaft 39 is a gear 64 which meshes with a gear 65 on a shaft 66. The shaft extends up into a housing 67 arranged at the top of the capsule hop er 40 in which housing is located a series of eveled pinions 68, 69, 70 and 71 which transmit movement to the agitator shaft 72 for stirring or agitating the capsules contained in the hop er.

Fixed to the upper end of shaft 35 is a disklike member or table 73 and co-operating therewith and fixed to the upper end of shaft 34 is a disk-like member or table 74. The rotatable table 73 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially arranged spaced apertures or recesses 75 adapted to be periodically brought under the capsule righting mechanism to receive capsules therefrom, one capsule to each aperture. In order to arrest the movement momentarily of each capsule and to permanently arrest further downward movement of the cap of the capsule, each of these apertures is provided with an upper enlarged portion 76 and a lower.

portion 77 of relatively smaller diameter thus providing a shoulder therebetween upon which the cap of the capsule rests. The diameter of the portion 77 of each aperture is sufiicient, however, to permit the body of the capsule to pass therethrough.

The rotatable table 74 is provided with a corresponding number of circumferentially arranged spaced apertures or recesses 78, each of which is provided with a shoulder rtion 79 upon which the bottom of the dy of the capsule rests. The rotation of the tables 73 and 74 is so timed that two apertures 75 of the table 73 register with two apertures 78 of the table 74 at each step during the operation of the machine.

A vacuum nozzle or suction tube80 is provided to create a suction in each aperture 75 as it comes under the capsule righting mechanism to thus positively draw the capsule down into the aperture 75 and at the first point at which an aperture 75 registers with an aperture 78 another suction or vacuum nozzle 81 is provided which acts'to positively draw the body of the capsule from engagement with the capsule and into the aperture or pocket 78 in table 74, thus unjoining the capsule.

Mounted upon the base 10 at the end thereof opposite the capsule hopper is a material or medicament hopper 82. This hopper 82 is provided with a discharge spout or outlet 83 arranged above and in close proximity to the upper surface of the rotatable table 74 so that while the material may be constantly agitated and fed toward the discharge opening of the hopper, the escape of the material is prevented because of the table 74. However, as the bodies of the capsules are successively brought under the discharge opening of the hopper the material contained therein is positively forced into the capsule body and the same filled.

The hopper 82 is provided with a screw feed 84 for positively forcing the material therein out through an outlet opening 85. This screw feed is driven by a shaft 86 and an agitator 87 is driven through a sleeve 88. The upper end of shaft 86 is provided with a bevel pinion 89 meshing with a bevel pinion 90 on shaft 91, and a second bevel pinion 92 meshes with a bevel gear 93 on the upper end of a sleeve 88. Shaft 91 is driven through bevel pinions 94 and 95, the latter bein keyed to the upper end of a shaft 96. The end of this shaft has a coupling member 97 adapted for engagement with a companion portion 98 formed on the upper end of a shaft 99. In this manner the material hopper and the gearing carried thereby may be removed as a unit from the machine.

In order that the screw feed 84 may be rotated at any desired speed and as a consequence the material fed to the capsules in the desired quantity or rate there is provided a change speed mechanism located in a housing 100. This mechanism consists of a plurality of ears 101 of successively increasing size keye to a shaft 99 and adapted to mesh with a corresponding number of gears 102 loosely rotatable about a shiftable shaft 103. The lower end of this shaft is slidably keyed to the sleeve 21 by keys 202 sliding in a key way 203 formed in said sleeve, and is provided with keys 104 adapted to engage keyways on any of the gears 102. Thus by properly adjusting shaft 103 any one of the gears 102 may be keyed to the shaft 103 to thus drive shaft 99 at a speed corresponding to the ratio of the respective gears 102-101. Shaft 103 may be held in any of its adjusted positions by means of a locking device 105.

Keyed to the end of shaft 37 is a disk 106 provided with an eccentrically arranged pivot pin 107 to which a link 108 is pivotally connected. The other end of this link is pivoted as at 109 to a yoke 110. Extending upward from this yoke is a guide rod 111 slidably engaging a guide 112 formed on the machine. Also carried by yoke 110 are plungers 113 and 114. Plunger 113 is adapted to pass upwardly successively through the aperture 78 of table 74 to force the body of the filled capsule upwardly into engagement with the caps carried by table 73 at that point in the operation of the machine where a filled capsule body registers with a capsule cap. In order to hold the cap in position while the body of the capsule is being forced into engagement therewith, there is provided a stop or abutment 115 overlying the. upper surface of table 7 3 and located over the path 'of travel of apertures 75. Upon each upward movement of the yoke 110 and consequently plungers 113 and 114,

the latter plunger enters the next preceding aperture of table 73 and ejects the rejoined filled capsule. The two positions of the plungers are illustrated respectively in F i res 8 and 9.

operation motor 16 operates continuous- 1 thus continuously rotating drive shaft 12.

orm 15 rotates worm wheel 38 and as a consequence shaft 39' carrying cam 53 and pinion 64. Pinion 64 meshes with pinion 65 thus driving shaft 66 which is connected by a train of gearing to an a itating means for the capsule hopper 40. hese capsules are directed indiscriminately through spout 41 to the capsule ri hting mechanism 45 which is actuated by t e lever or actuating member 5557- 59. Thus upon each reciprocation of the upper movable plate 55 of the righting mechanism one capsule is first deposited into recess 46 and then moved over into registration with slot 48 where by reason of the peculiar shape of this slot, the capsule is deposited cap upwards into a directing channel 52. If the righting mechanism becomes jammed as in pre-frequentlyvthe case because of imperfect capsules or for various other reasons, the cam 53 will continue to oscillate arm 55 but owing to the fact that this arm is coupled to arm 30 actuating the righting mechanism solely by' means of spring influenced arms 57-58, arm 59 and consequently the righting mechanism will not be actuated but one of the arms 57 will be moved against the action of spring 61 thus separating the electric contacts 6263 to thus interrupt the electric circuit completed when these contacts are in engagement. This circuit may include means for controlling the power unit 16 or if desired, when an electric power unit is employed may be included in the main control circuit 34. When the contacts 6263 are separated the power unit 16 is stopped and the possibility of any disastrous results resulting from a jamming of the capsules is prevented.

Capsules drop by gravity, also aided by suction from nozzle 80, from directing channel 52 into the apertures 75 of table 73 and are arrested by the engagement of the cap thereof with the circumferential shoulder formed in each aperture 75. Table 33 rotates in the direction of arrow A (see Figure 2) and table 74 rotates in the direction of arrow B (see also Figure 2). The table 74 is provided with a series of apertures 78 and the apertures 75 and 78 are so arranged and the rotation of the tables 73 and 74 is so timed that in the overlapping portions of the tables two of the apertures 75 register with two apertures 78. As the first aperture 75 of the table 73 registers with an aperture 78 of table 74 the capsule is unjoined by drawing the body thereof from engagement with the cap and down into the corresponding apertures 78 of the table 74. This is done by suction or vacuum means furnished by suction pipe 81. The

body of the capsule is then carried by table 74 around under outlet opening 85 and material is forced therein by screw feed 84. It should be understood that the upper face of table 74 is arranged immediately under the outlet opening 85 of the material hop er so that material can be positively force into the open capsule body. It should further be understood that the screw feed 84 and agitator 87 ofthe material hopper rotate continuously, power therefor being supplied by worm 13 which meshes with worm gear 20. This worm gear 20 is fixed to and rotates sleeve 21 to which the lower end of shaft 103 is keyed. By longitudinally adjusting shaft 103 the keys 104 can be brought into engagement with the key-ways of any selected gear 102 to thus key this selected gear for rotation with shaft 103 whereby shaft 99 can be driven at the desired speed.

The tables 73 and 74 are periodically rotated or in other words driven with a timed step by step movement by reason of the Geneva gearing. Thus each of the tables is moved a ste and then brought to rest, the capsule receiving apertures 75 and 78 thereof being so spaced and arranged that at each period of rest of the tables two of the apertures 75 of table 73 are in registration with two of the apertures 78 of table 74; one of the apertures 75 is in position to receive a capsule from the righting mechanism; one of the apertures 78 of table 74 is under the discharge opening 85 of the material hopper so that material may be supplied to the 0 en capsule body carried thereby; and anot er aperture 75 of table 73 is in position to have the rejoined filled capsule ejected. ,By providing driving mechanism and b timing and arranging the parts as describe ample time is provided for the performance of each of the several operations so that the machine may operate continuously and unformly fill an complete each capsule.

The rejoining plunger 113 and the ejecting plunger 114 are reciprocated continuously by the eccentric gear mechanism 106107108 but the speed of rotation of gear 36 and consequently shaft 37 is so selected that the upward movement of these plungers is timed to occur during the periods of rest of the tables. Likewise the cam 53 is continuously rotated but the speed of rotation is so timed that the righting mechanism receives and deposits only a sufiicient number of capsules to supply the aperture 75 presented thereunder. Furthermore because of the dwell portions on the cam 53 the movable plate 45 has two positions of rest; that is one at each end of its movement, so that ample time is provided first for the capsule to enter recess 46 and then at the other end of the stroke for the capsule to be righted and deposited through guiding channel 52 into an aperture of rotating table 73.

-upward out of aperture 78 into aperture 75 and into'engagement with the cap. On the next step the aperture 75 with the rejoined capsule 1s brought into a position over ejecting lunger 114 which orces the rejoined fille capsule upwardly out of the aperture 7 5.

While an embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated herein somewhat in detail it will be readily apparent that various changes, modifications and rearrangements of parts may be made without departing from the spirit'and scope of this invention and to-this end reservation is made to make such changes as may come within the purview of the accompanying claims.

What we claim as our invention is 1. In a capsule filling machine, a capsule I righting mechanism, means for actuating said rightin mechanism including a yieldable part and means operated by a movement of said yieldable part for interrupting the operation of said machine.

2. In a capsule filling machine, a capsule rightin mechanism, actuating means therefor including a air of relatively movable parts, a control clrcuit having normally engaging contacts carried by said movable parts and means holding said parts in normal position but yieldable upon a resistance to the movement of said righting mechanism to separate said contacts.

3. In a capsule filling machine, capsule righting mechanism and actuating mechanism therefor including a rotatable cam, an oscillating lever'actuated thereby, a second lever connected to said righting mechanism, a pair of members normally operatively couling said levers and a spring for maintainmg said members in coupling position, as and for the purpose set fort 4:. In a capsule filling machine, the combination with capsule righting mechanism, of operating mechanism therefor including a cam actuated lever, a second lever connected to said righting mechanism and a pair of spring influenced members operatively coupling said levers with the spring thereof yieldable to exceptionable resistance upon said righting mechanism to render said operating mechanism inoperative.

5. In a capsule filling machine, the combination with capsule righting mechanism, material feeding mechanism, capsule rejoining means and capsule ejecting means, of means including a pair of overlapping rotatable tables acting to successively receive a capsule from said righting mechanism, unjoin said capsule, present the body of the capsule to said material feeding mechanism, present the filled body and a cap aligned therewith to the re olmng means and present the rejoined capsule to the ejecting means.

6. In a capsule machine of the class described, the combination with capsule delivering mechanism, material feeding mechamsm and capsule rejoining and ejecting mechanism, of a pair of rotatable tables arranged. in overlapping relation and formed with capsule receiving apertures, said a ertures' being spaced and said tables rotate in timed relation whereby a capsule is successively deposited in an aperture of one table brought into registration with an aperture of the other table and unjoined to deposit the body therein, said body presented under the material feeding mechanism, said body and cap superposed with said rejoining mechanism and rejoined and then operatively positioned with relation to said ejecting mechamsm.

7. In a capsule fillin machine, capsule righting mechanism an actuating mechanism therefor including a lever, means for oscillating said lever, a second lever connected to said righting mechanism and means efi'ecting a yieldable driving connection between said levers.

8. In a capsule filling machine, capsule righting mec anism and actuating mechanism therefor including a lever, means for oscillating said lever, a second lever connected to said righting mechanism and means effecting a yieldable driving connection between said levers, said last mentioned means including a pair of members yieldably embracing the said levers.

9. In a capsule filling machine, a capsule rightin mechanism, means for actuating said rig ting mechanism including a plurality of levers and members yieldably embracing said levers for yieldably connecting the said levers together, and means operable upon movement of either of said members away from said levers for interrupting the operation of the said machine.

10. In a capsule filling machine, capsule unjoining and joining mechanism including a pair of relatively movable plates, each plate being provided with a series of apertures, the apertures in one plate being adapted to retain the caps of the capsules and the apertures in the other plate being adapted to retain the bodies of the capsules, and means for relatively moving said plates to successively bring each aperture in one plate in successive registration with two apertures in the other plate.

11. In a capsule filling machine, capsule unjoining and joining mechanism including a late having a plurality of capsule cap retaming apertures, a second late having a plurality of capsule bodly retaining apertures, and means for relative y to bring each" aperture in each plate in successive registration with two apertures in the other late.

12. n a capsule filling machine, capsule unjoining and joining mechanism including a pair 0 rotatable lates having overlapping portions, one 0 said plates being provided with capsule cap retaining apertures and the other of said plates being provided with ca sule body retaining apertures, and means or relatively rotating said plates whereby each of said capsule cap retaining apertures is brought into registration successively with two capsule body retaining apertures.

13. In a capsule filling machine, capsule unjoining and joining mechanism including a plate having a plurality of capsule cap retainin apertures, a second plate having a plurality of capsule body retaining apertures, means for feeding whole capsules to the capsule cap retaining apertures, and means for relatively moving said plates whereby each capsule cap retaining aperture with a whole capsule supported therein is first brought into alignmentwith an empty capsule body retaining aperture and is then brought into alignment with a capsule body retaining aperture having a capsule body therein whereby each cap is moved out of alignment with the body of its respective capsule and is subsequently brought into alignment with the body of another capsule.

14;. In a capsule filling machine, capsule unjoining, joining, and ejecting mechanism including a pair of relatively rotatable plates, one of said plates being provided with capsule cap retaining apertures and the other of said plates being provided with capsule body retaining apertures, means for relatively rotating said plates whereby two of said capsule cap retaining apertures are always in alignment with two of said capsule body retaining apertures, a plunger in alignment with one set of aligned apertures in said plates and movable to force the body of a capsule from one aperture into the cap of the capsule in the other aperture, and a second plunger movable with said first mentioned plunger and arranged in alignment with a second aperture in said first mentioned plate to eject the closed capsule from the same.

15. In a capsule filling machine, capsule feeding and righting mechanism including a capsule delivery tube, a plate having a recess for receiving a capsule delivered from said tube, a second plate having a capsule rightrecess thereof with the said capsule righting Blot.

moving said platesnavaeis a capsule delivered by said tube, a second plate having a slot through which the capsule may pass, and means for moving said first mentioned plate to align the recess therein with the said slot, said first mentioned plate having a portion adapted to close the end of said delivery tube upon movement of the recess in said plate out of registration with :hp) discharge end of said capsule delivery 17. In a capsule filling machine, capsule feeding and righting mechanism including a capsule delivery tube, a plate having a recess for receiving a capsule discharged by said tube, a second plate having a capsule righting slot, said first mentioned plate being movable to align the recess therein with the said capsule righting slot, and means for moving said first mentioned plate, said means being operable upon a predetermined resistance to the movement of said first mentioned plate to interrupt the operation of said capsule filling machine.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

WARREN WILKIE. ARTHUR A. LEVERENZ. 

